Tap sole



June 9, 1931. S, CAPE-10 v 1,809,107

TAP SOLE Filed July 9, 1930 INVENTQR Salvarore Capezto BY ATTORNEYS imp sole for use on a left shoe Patented June 9, 1931 PATENT, oF ICEj-Y SALVATORE cArEzIo, or EAST 'iwrnnsou, new JERSEY TAP sow Application filed July 9,

This invention relates to shoes for tap dancing, and to a tap sole to be attached thereto.

To aid the production of sound in tap dancsing, it is customary to attach a tap sole, ordinarilyin the form of a metallic plate, tothe sole of the shoe of the dancer. If such a plate is localized to the extreme toe portion of the I shoe it does not interfere with the bending of 10 the shoe, but it then is only possible to tap the shoe at its-tip. If, on the other hand, the tap sole is extended to the ball of the foot, it makes the shoe rigid and prevents that flexibility which is essential to successful dancing; The primary object of the present invention is: to overcome the foregoing diiiiculties and to provide a-tap sole which will not appreciably diminish the flexibility of the shoe when attached thereto.

I have found that tap soles. heretofore used were relatively unscientifically'designed, because insufficient consideration was given to the nature of the tap dancing for which they were used. Investigation shows that considerable tapping is done with the inner edge of the foot. This is so because the weight of the dancer is rested upon one foot, while the other foot is used for tapping. Furthermore, in most steps the feet are spaced apart while dancing, and in such steps the tapping is performed predominantly with the inner ed es of the soles. Accordingly, it is another ob] ect of my invention to so shape a tap sole or platethat it will be advantageously usable for the tap dancing steps previously outlined, while not sacrificing the desired flexibility of the shoe.

Other objects of my invention reside in the provision of a tap sole which will be light in weight and readily attached to a shoe. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the tap sole elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims.

The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

- 1. Fig. 1 is a view looking at the bottom of a vention ,and

-.in theregion of the ballof the-foot.

dancing and tapping of the feet.

1930. Serial No. 466,631.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same applied to a shoe; 6 v

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a pair of shoes provided with tap soles embodying myin- Fig. 4 is a section taken in the plane of the line 44 in Fig.1. I

Referring to the drawings, the tap sole 12 comprisesa toe portion let and a marginal or wing portion 16 extending rearwardly from the toe portion along only the inner edge of the sole. Differently expressed, the tap. sole 12 is shaped to fit the toe of the shoe 20, but

one side edge, preferably the inner side edge of the tap sole, extends toward the rear of the shoe a substantial distancefurther than the other or opposite side edge of-the tap sole. 1 have foundthat in spite of'the rigidity of the tap sole, bending of the shoe is readily permitted if. the tap sole is extended backward.v

from the tip of the shoe along only the inner edge of the shoe instead of across the entire width of the shoe. This is true even though themarginal or wing portion of the plate of to apoint the tap sole is extended rearwardly The described construction is exceedingly advantageous because it permits bending of the shoe and at the same time facilitates tapping with the inner edge of the shoe, and,

as was above explained,most ofthe tap dancing steps are performed by tapping with the inner edge of the shoe sole, due to the fact that the weight is rested onthe foot which is not tapping, and the feet are ordinarily spaced apart. 4

My invention possessesthe further advantage of reducing the area of vthe tap sole and consequently lightening thesame. This I desirable result is carried further by making; the tap sole out of a light metal such as aluminum or alloys thereof. Theta'psole is preferably, though not necessarily, c'ast, and the outer surface may be made slightly ma vex and is carefully rounded at all of the-.1 exposed edges in order not to impede the The tap sole is preferably further lightened by-malnng the inner surface hollow. The hollow portion is indicated by the dotted 1 line 18 in Fig. 1 and is best shown in the section given in Fig. 4. A suitable number of holes 22 are dis tributedabout the periphery of the tap sole, 5 through which suitable nails or screws may be driven to attach the tap sole to the sole of the shoe; Lllh'ese holes are preferablycountersunk, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 1,-so that the heads of the nails or screws will not project from the smooth finishedsurface of the tap sole.

The mode of constructing and applyingrmy invention, and the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing description thereof. It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in thepreferred form, many changes and modifications may behrade in'the structure 'disclosed without departing :from the spirit "of the invention, defined in the following elaims; a r

I claim: 7 y

'1. 'Atap sole 'for attachment to a dancing =s'hoecomprising a rigid metal plate shaped 'to 'fit 'andcover'the sole area at the toe portion "of theshoe, the forward edge of said plate being curved to approximately follow *thec'ontour of the toe portion-of the shoe,'the real-edge of said plate extending generally transversely of'theshoe, 'and *the said edges fltlefining an enclosed or solidly filled-in area of -metal, one outside edge of said "plate extending into the ball portion of the lshoefan d extending toward the rear of'the Il shoe, when -'attached thereto, fa substantial distance further than the opposite outside dedge of said plate, "in "order to permit bending *oit the shoe at the toe portion thereof, while iperniitting tapping with the edge of 'theifoot.

2. A tap sole for dancers comprising a cast aluminum plate having a toe portion and "a relatively narrow-wing portion projjjett'ing' *reaTwardly from thetoe portion, 'alongonly the edge of thepla'te which lies along the inner side edge of the shoe when theplate is attached thereto, to a point in the region of "the ball of the foot, said plate having a slightly convex outer surface, a

hollowed inner surface, and a plurality of countersunk holes distributed ab.out"the perip'hery'thereof for attaching the same to the sole fof a shoe.

-3. In combination, a dancing'shoe, and a tap'sdlefattached thereto comprising an alu- ;1niumplate"having atoe portion and-a relatively' marrow Wing portion extending rearivartily from the toe portion along only the innersideedge of the sole of the shoe to a piointin the'region'of the ball of thefoot, said platehaving a slightly convex outer surface, a hollowed 'inner surface, and a plurality of attachinggmeans distributed about the pe rip'hery thereof by means of which it is fastened'to the sole of the shoe.

forward edge of which approximately follows 4. A tap sole for tap dancers comprising a metal plate having a toe portion and a wing portion formed integrally therewith; said toe portion defining an enclosed or filled-in approximately semicircular area the curved forward edge of which approximately follDNVSilIQCOIItOHI Of tllBtDBjPOUtlOIl ofithe shoe, and the rear edge of w'hich extends transversel-yof the shoe; and the said Wing portion, extending rearwardly from the toe portion along one edge only of the tap sole.

,5. A tap sole for tap dancers comprising a rigid cast metal plate having a toe portion and a wing portion formed integrally therewith; said toe portion defining an enclosed or filled-in approximately "semicircular 1 area the curved forward edge of which applicatimately follows the contour of the toe'zporlilOIl of the shoe,-and the-'rear edge :of'which extends trans versely of the shoe; :and the .185

said'wingpiortion'extendingirearwardly from the itoe portion along one edge only @0f the filled-in approximately semicirculararea the curve d' forw a-rd edge'of which app roximatly follows the contour 'of the toe portion of the shoe, andfth rear edge of which extends transversely of the shoe 'andith'e said wing portion extending :rearwardly from the toe portion along one edge only iof the ltap-i sole.

7. Atap sole for tap-dancers comprising ametal plate having a toe portion and a wing portion 'formed integrally therewith; r said toe portion definin'gl'an =enclosed jor filled-win approximately semicircular area the curved the contour of'the toe portion ofithe shoe,- and the rear edge "of which;extends transversely of' tl1e'shoe5'the said wing portion extending rearwardly from the toe portion along one edge :o nly'of-the tapsole; said'tap solebeing slightly convex on its ou'ter or lower face, and hollowed .out or concave'on its inner or upperiface; J f f j 8. "A tap sole for'attachmentto a dancing shoe, comprising .afi ri'gid "metal plate. shaped "to fit and cover the sole'area'jat the toe jpbrtion-of the shoe, :the iorwatasag of said plate-being, curved to lappro yiimately follow the contourof .the toe. portion ofthessho'e, the no rear edge of said ;plate e-xtending generally transversely-6f the-shoe, and the said-edges defining an enclosediorzsolidl-y :filled in area of :metal, one outside edge of said 1plateiextending towardftheirear of ithe'shoenwhen eat-f ta'che'd thereto, a substantial distance ther than the opposite outsitle edgeof said plate, in order to permit bending of tlre shoe a? the *toe portionth'ereof, while permitting tapping with the edge pf the *fo'ot,' saidttap SALVATORE CAPEZIO. 

